This is the accessible text file for GAO report number GAO-13-674
entitled 'Building Partner Capacity: DOD Is Meeting Most Targets for
Colombia's Regional Helicopter Training Center but Should Track
Graduates' which was released on July 24, 2013.
This text file was formatted by the U.S. Government Accountability
Office (GAO) to be accessible to users with visual impairments, as
part of a longer term project to improve GAO products' accessibility.
Every attempt has been made to maintain the structural and data
integrity of the original printed product. Accessibility features,
such as text descriptions of tables, consecutively numbered footnotes
placed at the end of the file, and the text of agency comment letters,
are provided but may not exactly duplicate the presentation or format
of the printed version. The portable document format (PDF) file is an
exact electronic replica of the printed version. We welcome your
feedback. Please E-mail your comments regarding the contents or
accessibility features of this document to Webmaster@gao.gov.
This is a work of the U.S. government and is not subject to copyright
protection in the United States. It may be reproduced and distributed
in its entirety without further permission from GAO. Because this work
may contain copyrighted images or other material, permission from the
copyright holder may be necessary if you wish to reproduce this
material separately.
United States Government Accountability Office:
GAO:
Report to Congressional Committees:
July 2013:
Building Partner Capacity:
DOD Is Meeting Most Targets for Colombia's Regional Helicopter
Training Center but Should Track Graduates:
GAO-13-674:
GAO Highlights:
Highlights of GAO-13-674, a report to congressional committees.
Why GAO Did This Study:
U.S. national security is inextricably tied to the effectiveness of
U.S. efforts to help foreign partners build their own security
capacity. The United States has had a long-standing partnership with
Colombia, a key part of which has been U.S. assistance to Colombia’s
aviation unit in counternarcotics efforts. RHTC is one of DOD’s
priority security cooperation programs. The Senate Committee on Armed
Services has recognized that many security cooperation programs are
key to U.S. military-to-military relations with foreign partners.
Because of concerns regarding DOD’s ability to assess the impact of
these programs, the committee mandated GAO to assess their
effectiveness, efficiency, and medium- and long-term results.
In this review, GAO assesses (1) U.S. government allocations,
obligations, and disbursements for RHTC in fiscal year 2009 through
May 2013; (2) the extent to which DOD has achieved its goal and
targets for RHTC; and (3) DOD’s progress, if any, in implementing its
plans to nationalize RHTC (i.e., fully transfer the program’s
financial responsibility to Colombia). GAO interviewed DOD, State, and
Colombian officials in Washington, D.C.; Alabama; Virginia; and
Colombia. GAO also reviewed DOD documents and funding data.
What GAO Found:
In fiscal year 2009 through May 2013, the Department of Defense (DOD)
allocated approximately $73.9 million from its Counternarcotics
Central Transfer Account to the Regional Helicopter Training Center
(RHTC) in Colombia. As of May 2013, about $47.0 million of this
funding had been disbursed. Most of this funding was allocated to RHTC
helicopter maintenance, including approximately $31.1 million (42
percent) to a maintenance contract and about $12.0 million (16
percent) for parts and tools. As of June 2013, the Department of State
(State) had also allocated approximately $382,000 from its Foreign
Military Financing (FMF) account toward training of helicopter
mechanics for RHTC.
DOD has largely achieved its goal and targets for RHTC but does not
collect any information on RHTC’s longer-term results that would allow
DOD to evaluate the extent to which RHTC helps to meet Colombia’s
counternarcotics aviation needs. For example, DOD has, for the most
part, met its goal of providing RHTC training in accordance with DOD
standards by providing training similar to that provided by the U.S.
Army. Furthermore, DOD has met one of its two targets related to the
number of students enrolled at RHTC-—it has met its target for the
number of Mexican students enrolled each year but has not met its
target for the number of Colombian students enrolled each year because
of insufficient capacity to accommodate more students. Moreover, DOD
has generally exceeded its target of an 85 percent graduation rate for
students at RHTC. However, DOD does not track any information on
whether RHTC pilot graduates use their skills obtained at RHTC in
subsequent military assignments. Colombia committed to retain
personnel in assignments related to their training for a minimum of 2
years after graduation and to provide data on these personnel to DOD.
According to DOD officials, they have requested but not received these
data for pilot graduates. DOD began to track the personnel assignments
of mechanics trained at RHTC in January 2013 because DOD prioritized
obtaining these data to ensure sufficient mechanics for future work at
RHTC.
DOD has made some progress in its plans to nationalize RHTC, but it
has also extended the timeline for nationalization and faces
challenges in meeting the revised timeline. The United States and
Colombia initially planned to fully nationalize Colombia’s basic
helicopter training school by July 2009. After they agreed in 2009 to
expand the school into RHTC, DOD began to plan for a projected
nationalization date of 2016. Subsequently, DOD extended it to 2018
because DOD recognized that Colombia would not be ready to take over
financial responsibility for the facility as originally planned. DOD’s
current plans for full nationalization in 2018 include separate
timelines for certain components, including (1) ground instruction and
helicopter simulators; (2) helicopters, parts, and tools; and (3)
helicopter maintenance and mechanics training. DOD is on target to
first nationalize RHTC ground instruction at the end of fiscal year
2013, but nationalization of some other components, such as simulator
maintenance and parts and tools, is now scheduled for later than DOD
had planned. Under current plans, State will provide FMF funds to
cover the costs of these delays. Some uncertainties may affect DOD’s
ability to adhere to the current nationalization timeline, including
unclear commitment from Colombia to RHTC nationalization and
uncertainty regarding future U.S. funding for the program
What GAO Recommends:
GAO is recommending that DOD work with the government of Colombia to
take steps to obtain information on Colombian graduates’ use of skills
obtained at RHTC in subsequent military assignments for at least 2
years after graduation. DOD concurred.
View [hyperlink, http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-13-674]. For more
information, contact Charles Michael Johnson, Jr. at (202) 512-7331 or
johnsoncm@gao.gov.
[End of section]
Contents:
Letter:
Results:
Conclusions:
Recommendations for Executive Action:
Agency Comments and Our Evaluation:
Appendix I: Briefing for Staff Members of Congressional Committees:
Appendix II: Priorities of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for
Special Operations/Low-Intensity Conflict:
Appendix III: Comments from the Department of Defense:
Appendix IV: GAO Contact and Staff Acknowledgments:
Abbreviations:
DOD: Department of Defense:
FMF: Foreign Military Financing:
IERW: Initial Entry Rotary Wing:
RHTC: Regional Helicopter Training Center:
SO/LIC: Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations/Low-
Intensity Conflict:
State: Department of State:
[End of section]
GAO:
United States Government Accountability Office:
441 G St. N.W.
Washington, DC 20548:
July 24, 2013:
The Honorable Carl Levin:
Chairman:
The Honorable James M. Inhofe:
Ranking Member:
Committee on Armed Services:
United States Senate:
The Honorable Howard P. "Buck" McKeon:
Chairman:
The Honorable Adam Smith:
Ranking Member:
Committee on Armed Services:
United States House of Representatives:
The United States' national security is inextricably tied to the
effectiveness of U.S. efforts to help foreign partners and allies
build their own security capacity, which is an important aspect of
sharing the costs and responsibilities of global leadership.[Footnote
1] The United States has had a long-standing partnership with Colombia
aimed at reducing the flow of illegal drugs from that country. As part
of its efforts to support Colombia's counternarcotics efforts, the
United States has helped Colombia build an army aviation brigade to
conduct counternarcotics operations, in part by funding a basic
helicopter training facility in Melgar, Colombia.[Footnote 2] In 2009,
the Department of Defense (DOD) began to assist Colombia in
transforming this facility into the Regional Helicopter Training
Center (RHTC).[Footnote 3] DOD's goal for RHTC is to meet Colombia's
needs for training helicopter pilots, while also training as many as
24 third-country student pilots annually, primarily from Mexico, in
accordance with DOD standards.[Footnote 4] DOD has also set targets
for RHTC, including annual targets for the number of Mexican and
Colombian students enrolled and for graduation rates. DOD and Colombia
are planning to nationalize RHTC (i.e., fully transfer the program's
financial responsibility to Colombia) in 2018.
In a committee report accompanying the National Defense Authorization
Act for Fiscal Year 2013, the Senate Committee on Armed Services
recognized that many security cooperation programs are key to our
military-to-military relations with allies and partners around the
world. Because of issues regarding DOD's ability to assess the impact
of these programs, GAO was mandated to examine selected U.S. security
cooperation programs' effectiveness, efficiency, and medium-and long-
term results.[Footnote 5] For this review, we assessed (1) U.S.
government allocations, obligations, and disbursements for RHTC in
fiscal year 2009 through May 2013; (2) the extent to which DOD has
achieved its goal and targets related to transforming the Colombian
basic helicopter school into a regional facility capable of providing
basic helicopter training for Colombia, Mexico, and other countries in
accordance with DOD standards; and (3) DOD's progress, if any, in
implementing its plans to nationalize RHTC. The attached briefing
slides provide the detailed results of our review (see appendix I).
To address our reporting objectives, we identified the priority
security cooperation programs of the Assistant Secretary of Defense
for Special Operations/Low-Intensity Conflict. We also obtained and
analyzed relevant U.S. funding data and, to assess the reliability of
the data, we performed cross-checks of the data by comparing internal
and external budget reports, such as congressional budget
justification documents. We also conducted audit work, including
interviewing officials from DOD, the Department of State (State), and
the Colombian Ministry of Defense in Colombia; DOD officials at Fort
Rucker, Alabama, and at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia; and DOD
and State officials in Washington, D.C. We also reviewed, among other
items, U.S. and Colombian documents prepared for semiannual program
management reviews of RHTC; plans of instruction for the Army Aviation
Center of Excellence and RHTC; DOD's security cooperation plan for
Colombia; and U.S. technical assistance agreements with Colombia and
Mexico. A more detailed description of our scope and methodology is
included in the briefing slides in appendix I.
We conducted this performance audit from August 2012 through July 2013
in accordance with generally accepted government auditing standards.
Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain
sufficient, appropriate evidence to provide a reasonable basis for our
findings and conclusions based on our audit objectives. We believe
that the evidence obtained provides a reasonable basis for our
findings and conclusions based on our audit objectives.
Results:
* RHTC funding: In fiscal year 2009 through May 2013, DOD allocated
approximately $73.9 million for RHTC from its Counternarcotics Central
Transfer Account. As of May 2013, about $47.0 million of the DOD
funding had been disbursed.[Footnote 6] Most of the DOD funding was
allocated to maintaining RHTC helicopters: approximately $31.1 million
(42 percent) to a maintenance contract and approximately $12.0 million
(16 percent) for parts and tools. The remainder was allocated for
helicopter refurbishment, such as converting excess U.S. Army
helicopters to serve as training helicopters; infrastructure
improvements at the training center; and other types of support, such
as for fuel and ground instructors. As of June 2013, State had also
allocated approximately $381,000 in funding from its Foreign Military
Financing account to training helicopter mechanics for RHTC in Fort
Eustis, Virginia. Mechanics for RHTC can receive training at either
RHTC or Fort Eustis.
* Achievement of training goals and targets: DOD has largely achieved
its goal and targets for the helicopter training center, but does not
track any information on RHTC's longer-term results. First, DOD has,
for the most part, met its goal of providing training at RHTC in
accordance with DOD standards, since the training at RHTC generally
follows the same key standards as the Spanish language basic
helicopter training provided by the U.S. Army at Fort Rucker. Second,
DOD has met one of its two targets related to the number of students
enrolled at the center. Since 2009, RHTC has met targets for the
number of Mexican students, but it has not met targets for the number
of Colombian students because of insufficient capacity to accommodate
more students. Third, DOD has met or exceeded its target of an 85
percent graduation rate for enrolled students at RHTC each year.
However, DOD does not track any information on the longer-term results
of the pilot training provided at RHTC that would allow DOD to
evaluate the extent to which RHTC helps to meet Colombia's and
Mexico's counternarcotics aviation needs. Although Colombia committed
to retain personnel in assignments related to their training for a
minimum of 2 years after graduation from RHTC and to provide
information about these personnel to DOD, DOD officials have not
obtained these data from Colombia for pilot graduates.[Footnote 7] DOD
began to track the personnel assignments of mechanics trained at RHTC
in January 2013 because DOD prioritized obtaining these data to ensure
sufficient mechanics for future work at RHTC. The Mexican government
has not committed to providing such data to the United States.
However, DOD officials stated that they have requested and continue to
pursue data from Mexico to show whether Mexican pilots who graduated
from RHTC have used their training in subsequent assignments.
* Nationalization of RHTC: DOD has made some progress in its plans to
nationalize RHTC, but it has extended the nationalization timeline and
faces challenges in meeting the current timeline. The United States
and Colombia initially planned for nationalization of Colombia's basic
helicopter training school to be completed by July 2009. After the
decision was made to expand the school into RHTC, DOD began to plan
for a projected nationalization date of 2016. Subsequently, DOD
extended it to 2018 because DOD recognized that Colombia would not be
ready to take over financial responsibility for RHTC by the previously
planned date. DOD's current plans for full nationalization in 2018
include separate timelines for certain components, including (1)
ground instruction and helicopter simulators; (2) helicopters, parts,
and tools; and (3) helicopter maintenance and mechanics training. DOD
is on target to first nationalize RHTC ground instruction at the end
of fiscal year 2013. However, nationalization of some other RHTC
components, such as simulator maintenance and parts and tools, is now
scheduled to occur later than planned. Under current plans, State will
provide funds from its Foreign Military Financing account to cover the
costs of these delays. After RHTC is fully nationalized, DOD plans to
continue providing tuition for third-country students. Some
uncertainties may affect DOD's ability to adhere to the current
nationalization plan: (1) Colombia's commitment to RHTC
nationalization is unclear; and (2) future U.S. funding for the
program is uncertain.
Conclusions:
The United States has allocated over $73 million to support a regional
helicopter training center in Colombia. DOD has provided basic
helicopter training for Colombians and Mexicans at RHTC at a level
broadly comparable with DOD standards and has tracked some short-term
performance measures, such as numbers of students trained. However,
DOD does not collect information that it needs to assess the pilot
training's longer-term outcomes despite the Colombian government's
proven ability to track graduates of mechanics training. The data
currently collected for student pilot graduation rates do not indicate
whether Colombian pilot graduates successfully participated in
Colombia's counternarcotics aviation efforts. DOD has requested, but
has not received, information from the Colombian government on the
continuing careers of RHTC's Colombian pilot graduates. Without
evidence of RHTC pilot graduates' ability to use their training to
help meet their countries' counternarcotics aviation needs, DOD has
limited ability to demonstrate RHTC's longer-term outcomes.
Recommendations for Executive Action:
To better enable DOD to assess the longer-term outcomes of its
investment in RHTC, we recommend that the Secretary of Defense work
with the government of Colombia to obtain information about whether
RHTC's Colombian graduates use their skills obtained at RHTC in
subsequent military assignments for a minimum of 2 years after they
complete RHTC training.
Agency Comments and Our Evaluation:
We provided DOD and State copies of this report for their review and
comment. In response, DOD provided formal comments, which are
reprinted in appendix III, and technical comments that we
incorporated, as appropriate. DOD concurred with our recommendation.
DOD agreed that tracking student assignments after training is a best
practice and will discuss tracking RHTC graduates with Colombian
senior defense partners. State provided no comments.
We are sending copies of this report to interested congressional
committees, the Secretary of Defense, and the Secretary of State. We
will also provide copies to others on request. In addition, the report
will be available at no charge on the GAO Web site at [hyperlink,
http://www.gao.gov].
If you or your staff have any questions about this report, please
contact me at (202) 512-7331 or johnsoncm@gao.gov. Contact points for
our Offices of Congressional Relations and Public Affairs may be found
on the last page of this report. GAO staff who made key contributions
to this report are listed in appendix IV.
Signed by:
Charles Michael Johnson, Jr.
Director, International Affairs and Trade:
[End of section]
Appendix I: Briefing for Staff Members of Congressional Committees:
An Assessment of DOD’s Assistance to the Regional Helicopter Training
Center in Colombia:
Briefing for Congressional Committees:
For more information, contact Charles Michael Johnson, Jr. at 202-512-
7331.
Contents:
* Introduction;
* Objectives;
* Background;
* Objective 1: U.S. Funding for the Regional Helicopter Training
Center (RHTC)
* Objective 2: RHTC Training is Broadly Comparable with DOD Standards;
* Objective 3: U.S. and Colombian Plans for Nationalizing RHTC;
* Conclusions;
* Recommendation for Executive Action;
* Scope and Methodology.
GAO’s Mandate:
In a report accompanying the National Defense Authorization Act for
Fiscal Year 2013, the Senate Committee on Armed Services mandated that
we review selected security cooperation programs to examine the
programs’ effectiveness, efficiency, and medium- and long-term results.
After obtaining a list of priority programs from the Assistant
Secretary of Defense for Special Operations/Low-Intensity Conflict
(SO/LIC), we selected the Department of Defense’s (DOD) RHTC in
Colombia for our assessment.
Objectives:
In this briefing, we assess:
1) U.S. government allocations, obligations, and disbursements for the
RHTC in fiscal year 2009 through May 2013;
2) the extent to which DOD has achieved its goal and targets related
to transforming the Colombian basic helicopter school into a regional
facility capable of providing basic helicopter training for Colombia,
Mexico, and other countries in accordance with DOD standards; and;
3) DOD’s progress, if any, in implementing its plans to nationalize
RHTC (i.e., fully transfer the program’s financial responsibility to
Colombia).
Background: RHTC Training for Colombian and Mexican Pilots:
DOD’s goal for RHTC is to assist Colombia in transforming its basic
helicopter training school into a regional helicopter training
facility capable of meeting Colombia’s pilot training requirements
while training up to 24 third-country student pilots annually in
accordance with DOD standards for Spanish-language basic helicopter
training.
A U.S.-Mexico counternarcotics and anticrime initiative resulted in
DOD agreeing to train Mexican helicopter pilots.[Footnote 1] Since the
number to be trained exceeded the number that could be accommodated at
Fort Rucker, Alabama, the U.S. army center that is the DOD standard
for basic helicopter training, Colombia agreed that Mexican pilots
could also train at RHTC located in Melgar, Colombia.
U.S. Southern Command is the project manager for RHTC.
[1] To address growing narcotics and crime issues in the region, the
United States and Mexico in October 2007 launched the Mérida
Initiative, a $1.6 billion effort aimed at supporting law enforcement
activities.
Figure: Refer to PDF for image: area map]
Source: GAO; Map Resources (map); Nova Development (clip art).
RHTC Regionalization and Nationalization through 2009:
Regionalization of RHTC:
[Figure: Refer to PDF for image: time line]
August 2001 to September 2009: The Colombian Air Force, with U.S.
assistance, provides basic helicopter training for Colombian Army
pilots at Melgar, Colombia.
March 2009: U.S. initiates discussions with Colombia to train Mexican
pilots at the Melgar facility.
September 2009: U.S. and Colombia agree to turn Colombia’s school into
a regional center to also train Mexicans and others. RHTC is created.
Nationalization of RHTC:
2007-2008: First nationalization discussions occur.
July 2009: Projected nationalization date for Colombia’s basic
helicopter training school.
September 2009: DOD begins planning for RHTC nationalization in 2016.
Source: GAO analysis of DOD data.
[End of figure]
Table: Relevant U.S. Assistance Agreements with Colombia and Mexico:
Agreements with Colombia: General Agreement for Economic,
Technical and Related Assistance, July 1962;
Selected commitments made in agreements:
The United States committed to:
* provide technical assistance to Colombia;
Colombia committed to:
* allow U.S. representatives to observe and review programs and
operations, and;
* furnish any information the United States needed to evaluate results.
Agreements with Colombia: Annex to the General Agreement for
Economic, Technical and Related Assistance, August 2004;
Selected commitments made in agreements:
Colombia committed to:
* minimize the rotation of personnel who have received training under
the annex by retaining trained personnel in assignments related to the
project for a minimum of 2 years after graduation, if possible;
* develop, maintain, and update a database of trained personnel; and;
* provide such information to the United States necessary to evaluate
the effectiveness of project operations.
Agreement with Mexico: U.S.-Mexico Technical Cooperation
Agreement, June 1951;
Selected commitments made in agreements:
The United States committed to:
* provide technical assistance to Mexico;
Mexico committed to:
* communicate to the United States information regarding the use of
funds for any projects carried out under the agreement.
[End of table]
Objective 1: U.S. Funding for RHTC:
* Fiscal Years (FY) 2009 – 2013 funding allocations and disbursements
(as of May 2013).
* Breakdown of DOD allocations by category.
Table: U.S. Funding for RHTC in Fiscal Years 2009-2013:
Total DOD counternarcotics funding for RHTC[A] (as of May 2013):
Allocations:
FY 2009: $10,717,310;
FY 2010: $16,171,000;
FY 2011: $16,964,000;
FY 2012: $13,765,000;
FY 2013: $16,272,000;
Total: $73,889,310.
Total DOD counternarcotics funding for RHTC[A] (as of May 2013):
Unobligated balance;
FY 2009: 0;
FY 2010: 0;
FY 2011: $47,755;
FY 2012: 0;
FY 2013: $8,572,163;
Total: $8,619,918.
Total DOD counternarcotics funding for RHTC[A] (as of May 2013):
Unliquidated obligations;
FY 2009: 0;
FY 2010: $1,529,063;
FY 2011: $1,509,162;
FY 2012: $9,858,680;
FY 2013: $5,366,226;
Total: $18,263,131.
Total DOD counternarcotics funding for RHTC[A] (as of May 2013):
Disbursements;
FY 2009: $10,717,310;
FY 2010: $14,641,937;
FY 2011: $15,406,628;
FY 2012: $3,906,320;
FY 2013: $2,333,611;
Total: $47,005,806.
Source: DOD.
Note:
[A] All DOD counternarcotics funding to RHTC is from the
Counternarcotics Central Transfer Account, and includes funding from
the U.S. Southern Command’s counternarcotics project codes 9415, 9201,
and 9203.
[End of table]
According to DOD data, in FY2012 through June FY2013, the Department
of State (State) allocated approximately $382,000 in funding from its
Foreign Military Financing (FMF) account to training helicopter
mechanics for RHTC in Fort Eustis, Virginia. Mechanics for RHTC can
receive training either at RHTC or Fort Eustis. DOD administers the
FMF program with State funding.
More Than Half of DOD’s Funds Allocated toward Maintaining RHTC
Helicopters:
Figure: Percentage of allocated funds FY2009 – May 2013[A]:
[Refer to PDF for image: pie-chart]
Related to helicopter maintenance:
Maintenance contract ($31,123,949): 42%; Provides comprehensive
helicopter and simulator maintenance, training of Colombian mechanics,
maintenance quality control, and supervision.
Parts and tools ($12,002,930): 16%; Provides helicopter parts, tools,
and other equipment needed to sustain current and future helicopter
maintenance.
Other:
Helicopter refurbishment ($11,319,850): 15%; Funds U.S. Army’s work to
refit military helicopters to operate as training vehicles for another
10-15 years.
Infrastructure ($10,098,551): 14%; Includes expanding a dining
facility and building new classrooms, student barracks, maintenance
hangars, and an auxiliary airfield.[B]
Other ($9,344,030): 13%; Includes international student support,
ground school instructors, U.S. Army operational support, fuel, and
communications.
[A] We requested that DOD provide this funding data for disbursements;
however, DOD was only able to provide this information for allocations
within the time frame of our review.
[B] According to documents obtained from Colombian officials, Colombia
has also contributed funding toward many of the infrastructure
improvements such as the dining hall expansion, new classrooms,
additional barracks for students, and the auxiliary airfield.
Source: GAO analysis of DOD data.
[End of figure]
Objective 2: Results of RHTC:
* RHTC training compared with DOD standards;
* Number of students enrolled compared with target numbers;
* Annual graduation rates compared with target rates;
* DOD’s ability to evaluate longer-term RHTC results.
RHTC Training Generally Follows Selected Key DOD Standards for Spanish-
Language Basic Helicopter Training:
Appendix II: Priorities of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for
Special Operations/Low-Intensity Conflict:
Selected key DOD standards for Spanish language basic helicopter
training[A]: 10-16 to 1 student to ground instructor ratio;
RHTC training performance: 12 to 1 student to ground instructor ratio.
Selected key DOD standards for Spanish language basic helicopter
training[A]: 2 to 1 student to instructor pilot ratio;
RHTC training performance: 2 to 1 student to instructor pilot ratio.
Selected key DOD standards for Spanish language basic helicopter
training[A]: 27 flight hours in simulator during training;
RHTC training performance: 30 flight hours in simulator during
training;
Selected key DOD standards for Spanish language basic helicopter
training[A]: 128 flight hours in helicopter during training, with
topics including basic flying, flying with instruments, tactics,
flying at night, and flying with night-vision goggles;
RHTC training performance: 99 flight hours in helicopter during
training, with topics including basic flying, flying with instruments,
tactics, flying at night, and flying with night-vision goggles;
The RHTC curriculum includes fewer flight hours because:
* some riskier maneuvers are not practiced due to RHTC having fewer
training helicopters and less repair capability than Fort Rucker, and;
* RHTC has a smaller flight area so less time is spent flying to
training sites.
Selected key DOD standards for Spanish language basic helicopter
training[A]: Standardization pilots evaluate qualified instructor
pilots to become standardization pilots[B];
RHTC training performance: At least one standardization pilot has been
properly certified, with evaluations performed by another
standardization pilot.
Selected key DOD standards for Spanish language basic helicopter
training[A]: Instructional materials used are approved by the
RHTC uses instructional materials provided by the U.S. Army’s Training
and Doctrine Command;
RHTC training performance: RHTC uses instructional materials provided
by the U.S. Army’s Training and Doctrine Command.
Source: GAO analysis of DOD data.
Notes:
[A] The DOD standards included here are plans and expectations set for
how to deliver the basic helicopter training provided in the Spanish
language at Fort Rucker.
[B] A standardization pilot supervises instructor pilots and helps to
ensure that training meets DOD standards.
[End of table]
Figure: Target Met for Mexican Student Enrollment but Not for
Colombian Student Enrollment:
[Refer to PDF for image: vertical bar graph]
Student pilots enrolled:
FHTC academic year: 2009-2010[A];
Mexican military: 0;
Colombian forces: 41;
Total enrollment: 41.
FHTC academic year: 2010-2011;
Mexican military: 24 (target was 24);
Colombian forces: 24 (target was 36);
Total enrollment: 48.
FHTC academic year: 2011-2012;
Mexican military: 24 (target was 24);
Colombian forces: 24 (target was 36);
Total enrollment: 48.
FHTC academic year: 2012-2013;
Mexican military: 24 (target was 24);
Colombian forces: 34 (target was 50);
Total enrollment: 58.
Source: GAO analysis of DOD data.
[A] Graph does not show two Peruvian pilots who enrolled and graduated
from RHTC in 2009-2010.
[End of figure]
* RHTC has increased its annual enrollment in recent years but has
not met both annual targets for number of students enrolled.
- RHTC has met the target of training 24 Mexican pilots per year.
- RHTC has not met targets for Colombian students because of the
insufficient capacity to accommodate more students.
* According to DOD officials, RHTC should meet its combined targets
of 74 total students per year once an auxiliary airfield is
operational.
Figure: RHTC Has Generally Exceeded Its Target for Graduation Rates:
[Refer to PDF for image: multiple line graph]
Student pilot graduation rates at RHTC, annual target: 85%.
RHTC academic year: 2009-2010[A];
Source of graduates/students enrolled:
Colombian military: 36/41
Student pilot graduation rates at RHTC: 87.8%;
Mexican military: 0/0
Student pilot graduation rates at RHTC: N/A;
Total: 36/41
Student pilot graduation rates at RHTC: 87.8%;
RHTC academic year: 2010-2011;
Source of graduates/students enrolled:
Colombian military: 20/24;
Student pilot graduation rates at RHTC: 83.3%;
Mexican military: 21/24;
Student pilot graduation rates at RHTC: 87.5%;
Total: 41/48;
Student pilot graduation rates at RHTC: 85.4%.
RHTC academic year: 2011-2012;
Source of graduates/students enrolled:
Colombian military: 24/24;
Student pilot graduation rates at RHTC: 100%;
Mexican military: 23/24;
Student pilot graduation rates at RHTC: 95.8%;
Total: 47/48;
Student pilot graduation rates at RHTC: 97.9%.
RHTC academic year: 2012-2013;
Source of graduates/students enrolled:
Colombian military: 31/34[[
Student pilot graduation rates at RHTC: 91.2%;
Mexican military: 22/24;
Student pilot graduation rates at RHTC: 91.7%;
Total: 53/58;
Student pilot graduation rates at RHTC: 91.4%.
Source: GAO analysis of DOD data.
[A] Graph does not show two Peruvian student pilots who enrolled and
graduated from RHTC in 2009-2010.
[End of figure]
* Students who failed to complete the training did so for reasons such
as illness, legal issues, academic problems, flight deficiencies,
honor code violations, or air accidents.
DOD Lacks Data Needed to Ensure that RHTC Graduates Have Used Training
on the Job:
* Although Colombia made commitments to retain personnel in
assignments related to their training for a minimum of 2 years after
graduation, maintain a database of these personnel, and provide
information about their assignments to the United States, DOD
officials have not successfully collected these data for RHTC pilot
graduates. This hinders DOD’s ability to evaluate the longer-term
results of RHTC.
* DOD officials stated that they have requested these data for
graduates of pilot and mechanics training at RHTC. However, DOD has
not received any data on the assignments of pilot graduates. DOD
prioritized tracking data on the assignments of mechanic graduates to
ensure there would be enough to support RHTC and began receiving data
on them from Colombia in January 2013.
* Tracking such data is a best practice for training because doing so
allows the training provider to know whether trainees are using what
they learned as intended.
* The Mexican government has not committed to providing similar data
on RHTC graduates. However, DOD officials stated that they have
requested, and continue to pursue obtaining, such data on Mexican
graduates.
Objective 3: Nationalization of RHTC:
* DOD plans for nationalization of RHTC.
* Timelines for each component in DOD’s plans for nationalization of
RHTC.
* Uncertainty relating to nationalization of RHTC.
DOD Has Extended RHTC Nationalization Plans:
* The United States and Colombia initially planned to fully
nationalize Colombia’s basic helicopter training school by July 2009.
* After the decision to expand the school to RHTC, DOD began to plan
for a projected nationalization date of 2016. Subsequently, DOD
extended it to 2018 because, according to DOD officials, DOD
recognized that Colombia would not be ready to take over financial
responsibility for RHTC as originally planned. As a result, DOD plans
to spend about $38 million between FY2016 and FY2018 on RHTC.
* DOD developed an RHTC nationalization plan to track progress. The
plan includes the following components, each with a separate timeline
for nationalization:
1) Ground instruction and helicopter simulators;
2) Helicopters, parts, and tools;
3) Helicopter maintenance and mechanics training.
* DOD is working with the Colombian Ministry of Defense to nationalize
each component according to the agreed plan and intends to continue
funding the tuition of international students sent to RHTC after its
nationalization.[Footnote 2]
[2] The international students referred to here and throughout the
briefing are international students from third countries other than
Colombia.
Figure: DOD Is on Target to Nationalize RHTC Ground Instruction but
Not Helicopter Simulators:
[Refer to PDF for image: timeline]
Component: Ground instruction:
DOD counternarcotics funds: CY 2011-2013;
Colombian Air Force: CY 2013-2018 and beyond.
Component: Colombian Air Force;
DOD counternarcotics funds: CY 2011-2014;
State AMF funds: CY 2014-2015;
Colombian Air Force: CY 2015-2018 and beyond.
Source: GAO analysis of DOD data on planned obligations.
[End of figure]
* Ground instruction: DOD’s contract for ground instructors expires at
the end of September 2013. Colombian Air Force officials told us that
Colombian ground instructors will be ready to take over the function
at this time.
* Helicopter simulators: According to project documents, Colombia was
scheduled to take over simulator maintenance in 2014. However, because
Colombia had not budgeted for this function, DOD agreed to continue
supporting it using State FMF funds until August 2015. As of May 2013,
it was not clear whether Colombia had agreed to take over simulator
maintenance by August 2015.
Figure: DOD and State Plan to Fund RHTC Parts and Tools for Longer
Than Expected:
[Refer to PDF for image: timeline]
Component: Helicopters;
DOD counternarcotics funds: CY 2011-2015;
Helicopters property of the Colombian Air Force: CY 2015-2018 and
beyond.
Component: Parts and tools;
DOD counternarcotics funds: CY 2011-2016;
Colombian Air Force: CY 2014-2018 and beyond.
Source: GAO analysis of DOD data on planned obligations.
[End of figure]
* Helicopters: By September 2015, DOD will refurbish 30 U.S. Army
excess helicopters, specifically OH-58s, and convert them into
training helicopters for RHTC. In 2016, DOD plans to transfer the
helicopters’ titles to the Colombians. As of May 2013, DOD had
provided 18 of the 30 helicopters to Colombia.[Footnote 3]
* Parts and tools: DOD’s goal is to reduce counternarcotics funding
while using FMF funds from State to purchase parts and tools starting
in 2014. That same year, DOD will begin transitioning responsibility
for this function to the Colombian Air Force. Colombia will use the
Foreign Military Sales program to purchase some of the parts and tools
through 2016. The goal is for the Colombian Air Force to be equipped
with enough parts and tools to allow it to assume sole responsibility
for maintenance by 2016.
[3] DOD had also provided an additional 2 helicopters to Colombia that
were damaged during training exercises.
Figure: Maintenance and Training Mechanics Are Keys to RHTC Long-Term
Success:
[Refer to PDF for image: timeline]
Component: Helicopter maintenance;
DOD counternarcotics funds: CY 2011-2018 and beyond;
Colombian Air Force: CY 2016-2018 and beyond.
Component: Mechanics training;
DOD counternarcotics funds: CY 2011-2014;
State AMF funds: CY 2011-2014.
Source: GAO analysis of DOD data on planned obligations.
[End of figure]
* Helicopter maintenance: Since July 2010, a DOD contractor has
maintained RHTC helicopter training fleet and simulators. The contract
has been extended several times to accommodate new requirements
related to the school’s expansion. DOD will transfer helicopter
maintenance to Colombia by 2016 but maintain the contract at a reduced
funding level to provide maintenance mentorship support through 2018.
* Mechanics training: The contractor began providing basic mechanics
training to Colombian personnel in February 2012.The goal is to train
86 mechanics at Fort Eustis, Virginia, and RHTC by 2014. According to
DOD officials, reaching this goal would ensure that RHTC has enough
trained mechanics when the Colombian Air Force begins to take over
maintenance responsibilities in 2016. As of March 2013, 55 students
have enrolled and 45 have graduated.
Figure: DOD Plans to Support Training for International Students Until
and After RHTC is Nationalized:
Component: International student support;
DOD counternarcotics funds: CY 2011-2018;
DOD counternarcotics funds for tuition: CY 2018-2019 and beyond;
Students per year: 24.
Source: GAO analysis of DOD data on planned obligations.
[End of figure]
Out-Year Funds for Nationalizing RHTC Are Uncertain:
* Colombia’s long-term financial commitment to RHTC nationalization is
unclear: While Colombian officials indicated they are preparing for
nationalization, Colombia has not budgeted for future contributions to
RHTC’s nationalization. According to Colombian government officials,
they expect to request funds for nationalization in their 2015-2018
budget but do not know whether the proposal will be approved. In
addition, Colombia did not send high-level officials to participate in
November 2012 and May 2013 meetings set to discuss nationalization.
* Future U.S. funding is uncertain: DOD estimates it will cost more
than $12 million per year in U.S. counternarcotics funds for RHTC
until it is nationalized. However, according to DOD documents,
possible cuts to DOD funding could affect the nationalization time
frames.
Conclusions:
* The United States has supported basic helicopter training for
Colombian and Mexican military personnel at RHTC, but DOD does not
evaluate any metrics related to the pilot training’s longer-term
outcomes.
* DOD has requested but has not received any information from the
Colombian government on the continuing careers of RHTC’s Colombian
pilot graduates despite commitments from the Colombian government to
provide such information and the Colombian government’s proven ability
to track graduates of mechanics training.
* Because they have not collected such data, DOD officials do not know
whether pilots who graduated from RHTC are using their training in
counternarcotics aviation units, as intended.
* The longer-term outcomes of RHTC could be better demonstrated by
measuring the ability of RHTC graduates to use their training to help
meet their countries’ counternarcotics aviation needs.
* The timeline for nationalization of RHTC has been extended, and
uncertainty remains that could cause it to slip further beyond 2018.
Recommendation for Executive Action:
* To better enable DOD to assess the longer-term outcomes of its
investment in RHTC, we recommend that the Secretary of Defense work
with the government of Colombia to obtain information about whether
RHTC’s Colombian graduates use their skills obtained at RHTC in
subsequent military assignments for a minimum of 2 years after they
complete RHTC training.
Scope and Methodology:
* The Senate Armed Services Committee report (Senate Report No. 112-
173) associated with the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal
Year 2013 (Pub. L. No. 112-239) mandated that GAO review the DOD
security cooperation programs’ effectiveness, efficiency, and results
over time, providing routine briefings to Congress. GAO consulted with
DOD’s SO/LIC regarding priority security cooperation programs. After
consulting with SO/LIC and applying our own selection methodology, we
chose the DOD-funded RHTC in Colombia for our current review.
* To select RHTC for this review, we obtained a list of security
cooperation priority projects for each area of responsibility under
SO/LIC. Using our own criteria, we identified SO/LIC priority projects
that (1) had concrete, measurable objectives; (2) had been operating
for at least 2 years with some completed activities or deliverables;
(3) had clear and reliable funding levels; (4) were not extremely
large or small in terms of funding or scope; (5) included elements
familiar to GAO; and (6) were safely accessible for observation by GAO
personnel in the field. To avoid duplication, we eliminated any
projects from the list that were already being, or had recently been,
assessed by GAO or other government agencies or their contractors.
* For objective 1, assessing U.S. government allocations, obligations,
and disbursements for RHTC in fiscal year 2009 through May 2013, we
obtained and analyzed data on DOD’s overall funding for RHTC,
including DOD counternarcotics funding and State funding from the FMF
account. To evaluate the reliability of the DOD counternarcotics
funding data, we performed cross-checks, for example, reviewing and
comparing data from congressional budget justification documents for
fiscal years 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2014. After performing cross-checks
of the funding information, we informed DOD of some discrepancies with
regard to fiscal year 2011 data. In response, DOD provided updated
information that we incorporated into our report. We also interviewed
DOD officials responsible for managing the FMF and counternarcotics
funding data, and determined that the funding data were sufficiently
reliable for the purpose of the report.
* For objective 2, assessing the extent to which DOD has achieved its
targets related to transforming Colombia’s basic helicopter facility
into a regional center capable of providing basic helicopter training
for Colombia, Mexico, and other countries, we interviewed and obtained
documentation from DOD officials at the Pentagon, the U.S. Southern
Command, the U.S. Northern Command, and RHTC. We obtained and analyzed
enrollment and graduation data provided by officials from the U.S.
Southern Command and the Technical Assistance Field Team in Melgar,
Colombia, to compare targets and results. We assessed the reliability
of these performance data through interviews with DOD officials and by
performing some logic checks of the data provided. We determined that
these data were sufficiently reliable for our purposes. We reviewed
U.S. and Colombian documents prepared for semiannual program
management reviews of RHTC; DOD’s security cooperation plan for
Colombia; and U.S.-Colombian and U.S.-Mexican technical assistance
agreements.
* Also for objective 2, assessing the extent to which DOD has achieved
its goal of providing basic helicopter training to DOD standards, we
traveled to Fort Rucker, Alabama, where we interviewed officials from
the B Company, 212th Aviation Regiment, regarding their Spanish-
language basic helicopter training program, and observed the training
facilities and equipment. We also reviewed documents we obtained at
Fort Rucker’s Army Aviation Center of Excellence, including
instructional materials and plans of instruction. Based on our visit
to Fort Rucker, we identified standards in several key areas of basic
helicopter flight training that we could examine at RHTC. These
standards are plans and expectations set for how to deliver the basic
helicopter training provided in the Spanish language at Fort Rucker.
We then confirmed the importance of these key areas with officials at
Fort Rucker and the Army’s Training Doctrine Command. At RHTC, we
observed training facilities and equipment; interviewed U.S. and
Colombian officials, including members of the Technical Assistance
Field Team, contracted ground instructors, pilot instructors, and
master mechanics; and reviewed documents and instructional materials.
We focused on the selected key areas that we had identified for basic
helicopter flight training and noted the degree to which RHTC’s
training followed DOD standards. While we did not make determinations
on each selected standard, we determined that, overall, RHTC’s
training generally followed the selected standards. However, it was
beyond the scope of our review to compare the quality of training
provided at RHTC with that provided at Fort Rucker.
* Also for objective 2, we traveled to Joint Base Langley-Eustis,
where we interviewed officials from the Army’s Training Doctrine
Command and Security Assistance Training Field Activity to learn about
maintenance training and the types of costs typically associated with
helicopter training. In Bogota, Colombia, we interviewed State and DOD
at the U.S. Embassy.
* For objective 3, assessing DOD’s progress, if any, in implementing
plans to nationalize the RHTC—that is, to fully transfer the program’s
financial responsibility to Colombia—we reviewed DOD’s nationalization
plans for the RHTC and interviewed DOD officials in Washington, D.C.;
DOD officials at the U.S. Embassy in Bogota who were responsible for
managing the RHTC’s nationalization efforts; and the project manager
for RHTC from U.S. Southern Command. We also discussed nationalization
plans with Colombian government officials from the Ministry of Defense
and with Colombian Air Force officials.
* We conducted this performance audit from August 2012 to July 2013 in
accordance with generally accepted government auditing standards.
Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain
sufficient, appropriate evidence to provide a reasonable basis for our
findings and conclusions based on our audit objectives. We believe
that the evidence obtained provides a reasonable basis for our
findings and conclusions based on our audit objectives.
[End of section]
Appendix II: Priorities of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for
Special Operations/Low-Intensity Conflict:
This appendix provides information on the priorities of the Assistant
Secretary of Defense for Special Operations/Low-Intensity Conflict
(SOLIC) for their security cooperation activities, as of March 2013,
according to Department of Defense (DOD) officials.
SOLIC is responsible for the management of a portion of DOD's security
cooperation programs throughout the world.[Footnote 8] In the
management of these programs, SOLIC has identified its priorities in
building partner capacity and security cooperation by region, and then
identified the most pertinent activities conducted within those
regions. These priorities include:
1. Afghanistan and Pakistan: Capacity-building efforts for U.S.
partners conducting counterterrorism operations against al Qaeda in
the region. Priority activities in this region include:
* Section 1206 Programs[Footnote 9] for partner nations contributing
troops to the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan;
* Ministry of Defense Advisor Program for Afghanistan;
* Defense Institution Reform Initiative (DIRI) for Afghanistan; and:
* Section 1004[Footnote 10] and Section 1033[Footnote 11]
counternarcotics projects in the Afghanistan/Pakistan region.
2. Yemen and the Arabian Peninsula: Capacity-building efforts for U.S.
partners conducting counterterrorism operations against al Qaeda in
the region. Priority activities in this region include:
* 1206 and 1207(n)[Footnote 12] programs in Yemen.
3. Somalia and the Horn of Africa: Capacity-building efforts for our
partners conducting counterterrorism operations against al Qaeda
affiliates. Priority activities in this region include:
* 1206 Programs and 1207(n) Programs in Uganda, Burundi, and Kenya.
4. North and West Africa: Capacity-building efforts for our partners
conducting counterterrorism operations against al Qaeda affiliates.
Priority activities in this region include:
* 1206 programs in Mauritania and Burkina Faso;
* Section 1004 and Section 1022[Footnote 13] projects in Cape Verde,
Chad, Gambia, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, and the Trans-Sahel
region; and:
* Section 1033 projects in Nigeria.
5. Western Hemisphere: Capacity-building efforts for our partners
countering drug trafficking organizations and other networks. Priority
activities in this region include:
* DIRI for Colombia; and:
* Section 1004 and Section 1033 projects in Mexico, Colombia, and
Central America.
6. Asia: Capacity-building efforts for our partners countering violent
extremist organizations and other networks. Priority activities in
this region include:
* 1206 Programs in The Philippines and Bangladesh; and:
* Section 1004 projects in Indonesia and Vietnam.
[End of section]
Appendix III: Comments from the Department of Defense:
Assistant Secretary Of Defense:
Special Operations and Low Intensity Conflict:
2500 Defense Pentagon:
Washington, D.C. 20301-2500:
July 18, 2013:
Mr. Charles M. Johnson, Jr.
Director. international Affairs and Trade:
U.S. Government Accountability Office:
441 G Street, NW:
Washington, DC 20548:
Dear Mr. Johnson:
Enclosed is the Department of Defense (DoD) response to the GAO Draft
Report. GAO-13-674, "Building Partner Capacity: DoD is Meeting Most
Targets for Colombia's Regional Helicopter Training Center but Should
Track Graduates," dated June 27, 2013 (GAO Code 320932).
Sincerely,
Signed by:
Michael A. Sheehan:
Enclosure: As stated:
GAO Draft Report Dated June 27, 2013:
GAO-13-674 (GAO Code 320932):
"Building Partner Capacity: DOD Is Meeting Most Targets For Colombia's
Regional Helicopter Training Center But Should Track Graduates"
Department Of Defense Comments To The GAO Recommendation:
Recommendation: The GAO recommends that the Department of Defense
(DoD) work with the government of Colombia to take steps to obtain
information on Colombian graduates' use of their skills obtained at
the Regional Helicopter training Center (RHTC) in subsequent military
assignments for a period of at least two years after graduation.
DoD Response: Concur. DoD agrees that tracking student assignments
after training is a best practice, and although anecdotal evidence
suggests that graduates of the RI-ITC are being employed in the
capacity for which they were trained (for example, while Colombia has
the largest fleet of U.S--built helicopters in Latin America, we are
not aware of either pilot shortages or reductions in helicopter
usage), DoD will discuss with our Colombian senior defense partners.
[End of section]
Appendix IV: GAO Contact and Staff Acknowledgments:
GAO Contact:
Charles Michael Johnson, Jr., (202) 512-7331 or johnsoncm@gao.gov:
Staff Acknowledgments:
In addition to the contact named above, Judy McCloskey (Assistant
Director), Eugene Beye, Martin De Alteriis, Michael Kniss, Heather
Latta, Celia Mendive, and Pierre Toureille made key contributions to
this report. Mark Dowling, Etana Finkler, Reid Lowe, and Christopher
J. Mulkins provided technical assistance.
[End of section]
Footnotes:
[1] Department of Defense, Sustaining U.S. Global Leadership:
Priorities for 21st Century Defense (Washington, D.C., January 2012).
[2] In this report, "basic helicopter training" refers to Initial
Entry Rotary Wing (IERW) training, an introduction to helicopter
flight training. In IERW, student pilots learn the basics of flight
over several months: how to start the engine of the aircraft, take
off, hover, and land safely. Student pilots also learn other basic
skills, such as instrument flight and use of night-vision goggles.
IERW training prepares student pilots for advanced courses in military
aircraft.
[3] In Colombia, RHTC is known as the Escuela de Helicópteros de la
Fuerza Pública.
[4] A U.S.-Mexico counternarcotics and anticrime initiative, the
Mérida Initiative, resulted in DOD agreeing to train Mexican
helicopter pilots to support counternarcotics efforts. Since the
number of Mexican pilots to be trained exceeded the number that could
be accommodated at Fort Rucker, the U.S. Army center that is the DOD
standard for basic helicopter training, Colombia agreed that Mexican
pilots could also train in Melgar, Colombia, transforming the existing
helicopter school into RHTC.
[5] See Senate Report 112-173 accompanying its version of the National
Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013 (Pub. L. No. 112-239).
We consulted with DOD's Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special
Operations/Low-Intensity Conflict on priority security cooperation
programs. (See appendix II for a discussion of the priority areas.) After
those consultations and using our own selection methodology, we
identified RHTC as the focus of this review. This review is the second
in a series of reviews in response to the direction from the Senate
Committee on Armed Services. We completed the first review in May 2013
as a classified briefing on another security cooperation program.
[6] Of the approximately $73.9 million allocated from the DOD
Counternarcotics Central Transfer Account, about $18.3 million
remained as unliquidated obligations and about $8.6 million remained
as unobligated balances as of May 2013. The majority of the
unobligated balances were allocated in fiscal year 2013.
[7] Tracking such data is a best practice for training because doing
so allows the training provider to know whether trainees are using
what they learned as intended.
[8] SO/LIC is divided into three areas of responsibility: (1)
Counternarcotics and Global Threats; (2) Partnership Strategy and
Stability Operations; and (3) Special Operations and Combating
Terrorism.
[9] Section 1206 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal
Year 2006, Pub. L. 106-193, established this program, also known as
the Global Train and Equip Program, which is used to build the
capacity of foreign military forces through the provision of training,
equipment, and small-scale military construction activities.
[10] Section 1004 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal
Year 1991, Pub. L. 101-510, is used, among other things, to support
counternarcotics activities of foreign law enforcement agencies.
[11] Section 1033 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal
Year 1998, Pub. L. 105-85, is used to equip specific foreign partners
to support their counternarcotics activities.
[12] Section 1207(n) of the National Defense Authorization Act for
Fiscal Year 2012, Pub. L. 112-81, authorizes the Secretary of Defense,
with the concurrence of the Secretary of State, to provide equipment,
supplies, training, and minor construction to enhance the
counterterrorism operations capacity of the national military forces,
security agencies serving a similar defense function, and border
security forces in East Africa and Yemen.
[13] Section 1022 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal
Year 2004, Pub. L. 108-136, is used to provide support to law enforcement agencies conducting counternarcotics and counterterrorism
activities.
[End of section]
GAO’s Mission:
The Government Accountability Office, the audit, evaluation, and
investigative arm of Congress, exists to support Congress in meeting
its constitutional responsibilities and to help improve the
performance and accountability of the federal government for the
American people. GAO examines the use of public funds; evaluates
federal programs and policies; and provides analyses, recommendations,
and other assistance to help Congress make informed oversight, policy,
and funding decisions. GAO’s commitment to good government is
reflected in its core values of accountability, integrity, and
reliability.
Obtaining Copies of GAO Reports and Testimony:
The fastest and easiest way to obtain copies of GAO documents at no
cost is through GAO’s website [hyperlink, http://www.gao.gov]. Each
weekday afternoon, GAO posts on its website newly released reports,
testimony, and correspondence. To have GAO e-mail you a list of newly
posted products, go to [hyperlink, http://www.gao.gov] and select
“E-mail Updates.”
Order by Phone:
The price of each GAO publication reflects GAO’s actual cost of
production and distribution and depends on the number of pages in the
publication and whether the publication is printed in color or black
and white. Pricing and ordering information is posted on GAO’s
website, [hyperlink, http://www.gao.gov/ordering.htm].
Place orders by calling (202) 512-6000, toll free (866) 801-7077, or
TDD (202) 512-2537.
Orders may be paid for using American Express, Discover Card,
MasterCard, Visa, check, or money order. Call for additional
information.
Connect with GAO:
Connect with GAO on facebook, flickr, twitter, and YouTube.
Subscribe to our RSS Feeds or E mail Updates. Listen to our Podcasts.
Visit GAO on the web at [hyperlink, http://www.gao.gov].
To Report Fraud, Waste, and Abuse in Federal Programs:
Contact:
Website: [hyperlink, http://www.gao.gov/fraudnet/fraudnet.htm];
E-mail: fraudnet@gao.gov;
Automated answering system: (800) 424-5454 or (202) 512-7470.
Congressional Relations:
Katherine Siggerud, Managing Director, siggerudk@gao.gov:
(202) 512-4400:
U.S. Government Accountability Office:
441 G Street NW, Room 7125:
Washington, DC 20548.
Public Affairs:
Chuck Young, Managing Director, youngc1@gao.gov:
(202) 512-4800:
U.S. Government Accountability Office:
441 G Street NW, Room 7149:
Washington, DC 20548.
[End of document]